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A doctor who refuses to sell to Big Pharma with a medicine that could treat all blood cancer types.

In a rare and important move, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has recently granted special, preliminary approval to a cannabis-based drug being used to treat several blood cancer types.

Chrysoeriol, a new drug that has shown promise in combatting acute myeloid leukemia (AML), has been granted approval under the FDA’s Orphan Drug Act. The law, passed in 1983, allows expedited approval for drugs that treat rare diseases, such as Huntington’s Disease, Muscular Dystrophy, and ALS.

The special designation does not mean the drug can be manufactured and sold in the U.S., but rather allows its maker certain tax breaks and benefits in order to get the drug to market.

This is a very big deal.

How Chrysoeriol was Born Outside Big Pharma

It makes sense that Chrysoeriol is an orphan drug. As far as Big Pharma is concerned, it was born without parents.

The drug was developed by a Caribbean scientist named Henry Lowe, a former academic and CEO of a small pharmaceutical company called Medicanja, the first medical cannabis company in Jamaica.

The news about Chrysoeriol marks the first time the FDA has granted orphan drug approval to a medicine created in a developing country. But if Lowe has his way, it won’t be the last.

Although Lowe has had plenty of offers — up to $50 million — from Big Pharma companies for the rights to Chrysoeriol, he has refused to sell. In his eyes, the new drug could unlock the ability to treat all kinds of blood cancer types. And that kind of good shouldn’t be in the hands of American companies that have traditionally put profits above patients.

For now, Lowe has promised to shepherd the drug through the FDA approval process through Medicanja and his Maryland-based company, Flavocure Biotech LLC. He believes the new drug should be ready for approval in 1-2 years.

How it Works

Chrysoeriol has shown effectiveness in combatting acute myeloid leukemia (AML), one of several blood cancer types that Lowe researches. A synthesis a cannflavins creates this drug. These are special chemical compounds within cannabis that are unrelated to cannabinoids, but have powerful pain relief and anti-inflammatory properties. Cannflavins were first discovered in 1985, but have been little studied since then.

More specifically, Chrysoeriol is created by a biosynthesis of cannflavins A and B. Researchers have heralded these molecules for their potential as pain relievers. But Lowe and his company found something far more interesting: the ability to inhibit certain blood cancer types.

Chrysoeriol is most effective treating AML patients because of their unique genetics. About one-third of AML patients’ leukemia cells contain a gene mutation called FLT3. Chryseoriol is able to find and target FLT3 mutations, helping beat back the cancer.

Why it’s Important

AML is a hard disease. It’s one of several bone and blood cancer types in the leukemia family. It starts in the bone marrow and quickly spreads to the blood, lymphatic system, and rest of the body. It’s fast and relentless. Without treatment, it’s a death sentence. Once it has a grip on the body, AML forces bone marrow to produce abnormal white blood cells with the FLT3 mutation that quickly become cancerous.

Right now, there are very few drugs approved to fight AML — and those that are approved aren’t very good. These come with bad side effects due to a high toxicity level. Older patients with AML have about a 20 percent chance of living for five years. Young people have 67 percent survival rate five years out. Clearly, treatment is necessary. But the toxicity gives AML sufferers a terrible treatment choice to make.

Chrysoeriol is so exciting because it’s a non-toxic drug without any of the nasty side effects of traditional anti-cancer drugs. It could provide a better avenue for AML sufferers of all ages. It’s a medicine that extends quantity of life without reducing quality of treatment.

Beyond Blood Cancer Types

While Chryosoeirol is a huge deal, it’s not the only good thing to come out of Henry Lowe’s laboratory. He’s applied for several patents and shows no sign of slowing down.

His treatments could revolutionize the way we understand — and treat — all kinds of cancer. With a new approach and an eye toward a patient-first model of treatment, Lowe’s impact could reach far beyond blood cancer types and spurn a new kind of people-centric oncological care.

And he’s not alone. Lowe attended both Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is a business man and philanthropist, but not in the way typical of American elites. He wants to lift his own country out of poverty and help cancer patients lead better, longer lives.

That’s why he didn’t take the $50 million he was offered by Big Pharma. Instead, he’s trying to raise $3.5 million towards further testing.

Matt Weeks

A writer living and working in Athens, GA, Matt's work has appeared in various newspapers, books, magazines and online publications over the last 15 years. When he's not writing, he hosts bar trivia, plays in local bands, and makes a mean guacamole. He holds an undergraduate degree in journalism and a master's degree in organizational theory. His favorite movie is "Fletch."

2 Comments

Elvis

Bobby Trahan

Great article Matt ! The article touches on two very important issues. The first being the fact that BIG PHARM wants control over new drugs so they can make more profits by using a marketing strategy called CRS (controlled release strategy). Independent pharmaceutical companies are always on BP radar. Second issue is the fact that the tidal wave of research from the cannabis plant’s medicinal value is going have huge impact on helping people who want a natural form of treatment. Keep up the good work Dr.Lowe !!